Rates of Detecting Thyroid Nodules Recommended for Biopsy with Ultrasound: Are All Indications Equal?
Authors' conclusion
Of all new dedicated thyroid ultrasounds, only a quarter find biopsy-recommended nodules, and nearly 40% do not identify a nodule at all. Notably, only 55% of ultrasounds done for SPN found a nodule. Ultrasound for CS and MS had the lowest rates of detecting nodules.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (≥18 years) undergoing an initial dedicated thyroid US, 2017–2019, tertiary academic center
- Participants
- 1,739 adults
- Exposure
- Thyroid US findings by referral indication
- Outcome
- Percentage of US with an identifiable nodule and with a nodule recommended for biopsy, by indication
Methodological detailsobservational, single tertiary academic center
- Observational
- Single tertiary academic center
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Nodule identified on US
Each group vs SPNOdds ratio (CI)
Incidental
10.6(7.0–16.0)
CS
0.5(0.4–0.7)
- Overall US identifying a nodule
- 62%
- Difference in nodule identification across indications
- P < 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| Biopsy-recommended nodule identified | Incidental 55% · SPN 21% · CS 6% · MS 10% |
| Indication for thyroid US | SPN 40% · Incidental 28% · CS 13% · Combination 11% · MS 6% · High-risk 2% |
- Biopsy-recommended nodule identified — Overall US identifying a biopsy-recommended nodule
- 27%
Biopsy-recommended nodule identified
- Similar factors associated with identification of biopsy-recommended nodules
Original publication
Rates of Detecting Thyroid Nodules Recommended for Biopsy with Ultrasound: Are All Indications Equal? Thyroid. Published 7 December 2023. doi:10.
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